10 Key Principles For Local Air Quality Management (2015 Zhao, Xie, Witherspoon, James)
The report offers 10 key principles for developing a good air quality management system based on international experiences and China’s circumstances. Each principle is outlined first and then analyzed respectively in details. The aim of this report is to provide Chinese government principles in developing their air quality management systems.
2.Where do the authors work, and what are their areas of expertise? Note any other publications by the authors with relevance to the 6Cities project.
Authors:
Zhao Lijian, Director of China Environmental Management Program and Energy Foundation of China . Lijian is an expert in resource saving, water treatment and environmental management. ØPublished ‘Challenge and Consideration Regarding to Air Pollution Control and Management in China’ in 2013 and stated that the economic loss due to air pollution in China through 1995 to 2003 is accounted for 4% to 5% of the total Chinese GDP according to a report from World Bank in 2007.
Tonny Xie, Director and Secretary of Clean Air Alliance of China . An expertise in air pollution regulation. ØPublished ‘Responses to Air Pollution Emergencies According to Former International Experience’ in 2013 to discuss that Chinese government should propose five measures to step up air pollution emergency response mechanism, establish a special emergency coordination system, strengthen public support for dealing with environment emergency work based on international emergency experience.
Catherine Witherspoon, Non-CO2 Campaign Director of ClimateWorks Foundation and Former Executive Officer of California Air Resources Board;
Chris James, Principle of China and U.S. Programs and The Regulatory Assistance Project
3.What are the main findings or arguments presented in the article or report?
The authors state ten principles:
Establish and implement a sound local air quality management structure
Ensure sufficient human and financial resources
Apply state-of-the-art scientific analysis
Establish emergency episode forecasting and response system
Develop control measures and prioritize based on cost-effectiveness
Embrace best available control technologies and best available technologies
Optimize co-benefits for air pollutants and GHGs (greenhouse gases) when identifying and selecting control policies, measures and technologies
Ensure adequate implementation and enforcement with incentives and penalties
Enhance transparency and encourage public participation
Conduct regular monitoring and evaluation for continuous improvement
4.Describe at least three ways that the argument is supported.
For every principle,
The advantages of following the principle are stated in details.
Feasibility of each principle is described.
The methods and processes for establishing each principle are written step by step in every perspective.
5.What three (or more) quotes capture the message of the article or report?
1) “China also needs to simultaneously address severe air pollution and climate change. China has already set reduction targets for air pollutants and GHGs emission intensity. Local, provincial governors and city mayors are also faced with challenges to meet targets for both air quality and climate change mitigation. ” 2) “An optimized approach could help the local government achieve multiple targets with lower costs. Hence, the integration of policies that combine air pollutant and greenhouse gas emission reductions will result in cheaper and more effective solutions for both air pollution and climate change.” 3) “International experience suggests that improving air quality is no easy task; it will demand serious efforts and a comprehensive approach. Short-term actions are not enough; good policy frameworks and detailed management systems have to be built.”
6.What were the methods, tools and/or data used to produce the claims or arguments made in the article or report?
The report declares the importance of having a sound air quality management structure to the success of the air quality control program as well as the process of developing the structure.
The report states that an air quality program will fail if there are not enough human resources to manage and implement the program. Public and private expenditures on air pollution control should also be made sufficient to achieve the ultimate objective of clean and healthy air. The report also provides plausible methods for implementing funding and workers.
The report also mentions that optimizing co-benefits for air pollution and Green House Gases can help an agency to fully understand the scope of measures that can be implemented, their direct pollutant reduction benefits, and the ancillary co-benefits. Developing the full scope of control measures allows the air quality agency to evaluate effects, possible trade-offs, and barriers to implementation.
In addition, the report proposes that ‘understanding the science is the foundation of solving air pollution’ and provides the process for scientific analysis.
Last but not least, the report informs that air quality plans and regulations should be adjusted to reflect improvements in science and knowledge of the public health and environmental effects of pollution. Air quality plans should also be updated frequently and revised in response to new standards or requirements.
7.How (if at all) are health disparities or other equity issues addressed in the article or report?
The report addresses that pollutant level in multiple cities does not meet the standard restriction. However, after applying the tem principles, cities are able to meet public health, environment, and energy long-term goals at a lower cost and quicker pace.
The “gray sky” issue in China recently among several developed cities especially in Beijing. The 10 principles provide tools to develop effective new air quality plans to sustain long-term progress toward China’s national “blue sky”.
8.Where has this article or report been referenced or discussed? (In some journals, you can see this in a sidebar.)
Cited by Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP) official website
9.Can you learn anything from the article or report’s bibliography that tells us something about how the article or report was produced?
This report is produced by collaboration between experts from China and USA. Policy advisers from US EPA also contribute to this report significantly. Organizations such as Energy Foundation of China and Clean Air Alliance of China bolster the report as well.
10.What three points, details or references from the text did you follow up on to advance your understanding of how air pollution science has been produced and used in governance and education in different settings?
‘BACTs should be applied to every emission source to maximize emission reductions and to achieve the greatest economic and regulatory efficiency.’
‘The air quality data are increasingly more transparent. This improvement represents a good example of giving the public and business information that is consistent with what they are seeing and breathing.’
‘Prioritize the measures considering GHGsB benefits, and evaluate trade-offs. ’
- http://en.cleanairchina.org/product/6938.html
10 Key Principles For Local Air Quality Management (2015 Zhao, Xie, Witherspoon, James)- 2. Where do the authors work, and what are their areas of expertise? Note any other publications by the authors with relevance to the 6Cities project.
Authors:- 3. What are the main findings or arguments presented in the article or report?
The authors state ten principles:- 4. Describe at least three ways that the argument is supported.
For every principle,- 5. What three (or more) quotes capture the message of the article or report?
1) “China also needs to simultaneously address severe air pollution and climate change. China has already set reduction targets for air pollutants and GHGs emission intensity. Local, provincial governors and city mayors are also faced with challenges to meet targets for both air quality and climate change mitigation. ”2) “An optimized approach could help the local government achieve multiple targets with lower costs. Hence, the integration of policies that combine air pollutant and greenhouse gas emission reductions will result in cheaper and more effective solutions for both air pollution and climate change.”
3) “International experience suggests that improving air quality is no easy task; it will demand serious efforts and a comprehensive approach. Short-term actions are not enough; good policy frameworks and detailed management systems have to be built.”
- 9. Can you learn anything from the article or report’s bibliography that tells us something about how the article or report was produced?
This report is produced by collaboration between experts from China and USA. Policy advisers from US EPA also contribute to this report significantly. Organizations such as Energy Foundation of China and Clean Air Alliance of China bolster the report as well.